The following resolution on East Timor was passed by the Canadian Labour Congress at its May 1996 convention. The CLC, Canada's premier labour coalition, meets every 3 years. The resolution is a composite of six resolutions submitted by dozens of union locals and natioanl trade unions from across Canada.
WHEREAS the world can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to the struggle of the East Timorese people for self-determination and independence; and
WHEREAS the Government of Indonesia continues to illegally occupy East Timor since December 1975, in defiance of United Nations resolutions and despite international condemnation resulting directly and indirectly in the death of two hundred thousand (200,000) East Timorese (over 1/3 of the population); and
WHEREAS today, women are routinely subjected to forced sterilization, East Timorese homes are occupied by Indonesian soldiers and arbitrary arrests, torture, rape, murder and disappearances are commonplace; and
WHEREAS within Indonesia itself, workers are paid an average of one dollar a day, and the military is sued to impose terrible living and working conditions, and routinely breaks up labour actions and strikes, jailing and murdering labour leaders; and
WHEREAS the Canadian government continues to provide financial, military and diplomatic support to the Indonesian government and promotes increased trade in spite of ongoing and repeated violations of the most basic human and trade union rights; and
WHEREAS the illegal military oppression and genocide in East Timor is being aided and abetted by shipments of arms, military equipment and auxiliary supplies of a strategic nature from a number of Canadian sources;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Labour Congress continue to raise awareness about the situation in East Timor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CLC demand the Canadian government stop all trade with Indonesia until human and trade union rights violations cease and declare an immediate and total embargo on al exports of a military or strategic nature; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CLC support, and encourage affiliates to support groups such as the East Timor Alert Network (ETAN) that are actively involved in assisting the struggle of the East Timorese people.